West Ham plan to convince Harry Maguire to leave Manchester United after Declan Rice seals Arsenal move
Posted by  badge Boss on Jul 16, 2023 - 07:29PM
Maguire’s preference is to remain at Old Trafford (Picture: Getty)

United will step up their pursuit of defender after completed his £105million move to Arsenal.

The Hammers were forced to put their incoming summer transfer business on a brief hold as a complicated deal to take Rice across the capital was thrashed out.

T, becoming the most expensive British player in Premier League history.

According to , West Ham will now shift focus to Maguire and are determined to bring him to the London Stadium this summer.

Maguire has slipped down the pecking order at United with Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane now Erik ten Hag’s firm first-choice pairing. Victor Lindelof is also in the equation with Luke Shaw also impressing in a centre-half role last season as Maguire was limited to just eight Premier League starts.

Despite his lack of game time,. But West Ham hope to test that resolve with David Moyes a huge admirer of the England international.

West Ham would prefer a loan move at this stage with United prepared to offload the former Leicester City star on a permanent basis.

Maguire started just nine league league games last season (Picture: Getty)

Recent reports suggest United are seeking a fee of around £50million for their club captain. Tottenham have also been credited with interest this summer.

Another potential stumbling block is the player’s wages. Following United’s Champions League qualification, Maguire and the rest of the squad were given a salary increase, bringing him back up to £200,000-per-week.

In all, Maguire has made just 16 appearances last season and while United boss Erik ten Hag admires his professionalism and status as club captain, he admitted in May ‘no one would be happy’ in his current circumstances.

Ten Hag told The Times: ‘Yes, but he [Maguire] has high competition there with Raphaël Varane [at centre back], who’s fantastic. That describes everything.

‘No one would be happy with this situation. ‘He is not as well. He trains always on best levels, so with 100 per cent effort.

So he handles that situation well and he’s in that manner and in his captaincy he’s important for the squad.’

Asked if Maguire will stay, ten Hag added: ‘Let’s say I’m happy he’s here and when we needed him he did his job. But it’s also a decision he has to make.’

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